TedKaufman
01-21-2004, 11:25 AM
For various reasons, I stopped playing pool for almost 10 years. But I'm back!
How things change ... 10 years ago I had never even heard of a layered tip. I had used Le Pro for years, but when I bought my Southwest, at the urging of Jerry Franklin, I tried a Triangle. Wow--who knew! I discovered the Triangle is the tip Le Pro wished it was. I loved it.
10 years later, I still think the Triangle is a great tip. But I couldn't resist the lure of something new. What's with these layered tips...?
So I now have layered tips on two of my shafts and a Triangle on a third. The layered tips are Everest and Talisman WB. Both are medium. Of the two, I prefer the Everest, probably because the sound and feel it delivers is most like the Triangle I'm familar with. The Talisman WB is a hellava nice tip, though. Both layered tips hold their shape well.
However, contrary to claims like 'shape it once and never touch it again,' they do require maintenence. Both tips required regular reshaping for the first 3 weeks of shooting. In fact, in that respect, I don't feel they have any advantage over Triangle. That said, after a few weeks of play and several regroomings, both tips seem to be very stable and I don't anticipate much more than an occassional touch up. Again, though, the Triangle, after the same seasoning period, requires little if any maintenence, either. So, honestly, I don't see much advantage to the layered tips in this respect.
How do they play? I love the feel of the Everest tip. It's firm without being excessively hard and it holds chalk very well. I'm having more trouble making my mind up on the Talisman WB. One day it seems spongy; the next it feels responsive. I like the sound, but it has a different feel than anything I've ever used. It almost feels like some sort of plastic. The Talisman WB seemed to spread more readily in early use than the Everest, requiring more frequent sidewall grooming. Both tips grab very well and I'm comfortable working the outside of the cueball with either tip.
I've found myself using the Everest tipped shaft more than either the Talisman WB or Triangle. Partly because it has a stiffer taper and it's my favorite piece of wood. Grudgingly, I guess, I'm beginning to accept the Everest might be a slight advancement over the Triangle. The difference is not at all dramatic, however. These are all good tips and the differences are more a matter of feel than performance. I would like to point out, though, that anyone who buys a layered tip of any brand expecting to 'draw the ball twice as far,' etc, is in for disappointment. I would say layered tips offer evolutionary--not revolutionary--advancement.
Now, what to do with the 6 new Moori's I have sitting on the sidelines...?
How things change ... 10 years ago I had never even heard of a layered tip. I had used Le Pro for years, but when I bought my Southwest, at the urging of Jerry Franklin, I tried a Triangle. Wow--who knew! I discovered the Triangle is the tip Le Pro wished it was. I loved it.
10 years later, I still think the Triangle is a great tip. But I couldn't resist the lure of something new. What's with these layered tips...?
So I now have layered tips on two of my shafts and a Triangle on a third. The layered tips are Everest and Talisman WB. Both are medium. Of the two, I prefer the Everest, probably because the sound and feel it delivers is most like the Triangle I'm familar with. The Talisman WB is a hellava nice tip, though. Both layered tips hold their shape well.
However, contrary to claims like 'shape it once and never touch it again,' they do require maintenence. Both tips required regular reshaping for the first 3 weeks of shooting. In fact, in that respect, I don't feel they have any advantage over Triangle. That said, after a few weeks of play and several regroomings, both tips seem to be very stable and I don't anticipate much more than an occassional touch up. Again, though, the Triangle, after the same seasoning period, requires little if any maintenence, either. So, honestly, I don't see much advantage to the layered tips in this respect.
How do they play? I love the feel of the Everest tip. It's firm without being excessively hard and it holds chalk very well. I'm having more trouble making my mind up on the Talisman WB. One day it seems spongy; the next it feels responsive. I like the sound, but it has a different feel than anything I've ever used. It almost feels like some sort of plastic. The Talisman WB seemed to spread more readily in early use than the Everest, requiring more frequent sidewall grooming. Both tips grab very well and I'm comfortable working the outside of the cueball with either tip.
I've found myself using the Everest tipped shaft more than either the Talisman WB or Triangle. Partly because it has a stiffer taper and it's my favorite piece of wood. Grudgingly, I guess, I'm beginning to accept the Everest might be a slight advancement over the Triangle. The difference is not at all dramatic, however. These are all good tips and the differences are more a matter of feel than performance. I would like to point out, though, that anyone who buys a layered tip of any brand expecting to 'draw the ball twice as far,' etc, is in for disappointment. I would say layered tips offer evolutionary--not revolutionary--advancement.
Now, what to do with the 6 new Moori's I have sitting on the sidelines...?